Military Funeral Services   were held on Monday,   September 30 for SFC   E-7
Ronald L. Reil,   who was killed by a mortar shell while serving with the Army
at Pleiku, Vietnam on September 21, 1968.   The 2:00 p.m. service was held at
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church with the Reverend   Fred   Eberbach officiating.
Interment was in   Garfield Lutheran Cemetery,     Garfield Township, Roberts
County.                                                                                                               

“Just As I Am Without One Plea”   was sung by   Ken Quade,   the choir of Our
Savior’s Lutheran Church sang   “All That I Way,   My Sin,   My Guilt”   and the
congregation sang “Rock of  Ages.” Mrs.   Milton Kaufman was organist. Scrip-
ture was read from   Psalm 23 and John 14:1- 6. Rev. Eberbach’s message was
entitled “The Way To Eternal Life Is Christ Our Savior.”                                    

Military Rites were conducted by   Drake-Sorbel   Post No. 64 of  the American
Legion.   Active pallbearers were Eldred Buttke,   Reuben Reil,   Elroy Heinje,
Eldred Plepp,   Calvin Cameron and   John Buck.   Honorary pallbearers were
George Whempner,   Albert Christianson,   John Belgum  , Emil Larsen, Alfred
Vreim and Peter Young.    Mundwiler Funeral Home of Milbank was in charge
of arrangements.    Assisting with the arrangements were Major Andersen and
Master Sergeant Gahr,   stationed at Webster and members of the U.S.   Army
Advisor Group.                                                                                                  

Ronald L. Reil was born at Milbank, South Dakota on May 15, 1926, the son of
John and Hazel   (Younker)  Reil.   He completed grammar school in Geneseo
Township,Roberts County.                                                                                 

During World War II,  he served a four year enlistment with the United States
Navy. Upon his discharge, he returned to the Wilmot area. On September 30,
1947,  he was united in marriage to Frances Dargatz at Milbank.   The couple
resided on farms in Springdale and Agency Townships for seven years.         

He enlisted in the United States Army in February, 1955 and was stationed at
Fort Leonard Wood,   Missouri and Fort Riley,  Kansas before being assigned
to Germany in October. In October,1957 he returned to the United States and
was stationed for three years at Fort Hood,  Texas.    His second overseas as-
signment took him to Germany for a two year assignment. Upon his return to
the United States,  he was stationed at Fort Lewis,  Washington. He was then
assigned for his   third overseas assignment in Germany for a  period of  2-1/2
years.                                                                                                                

SFC E-7 Reil,   a 17-1/2 year veteran, left the United States on April 4, 1968 for
a one year assignment in Vietnam.    He was stationed with Co.  A of the 70th
Engineer Battalion. The Battalion was engaged in building roads and bridges,
mine sweeping and leading convoys.   Reil was killed by a mortar shell which
struck the base camp of Pleiku,     Vietnam in the early morning hours of Sep-
tember 21, 1968. He had reached the age of 42 years, 4 months and 6 days.      

He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church  of  Wilmot,   Drake-Sorbel
Post  No.  64  of  the  American  Legion and  a  former  member  of the Wilmot
Saddle Club. Reil was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran Faith by Rev.
F. Huesner at Christ Lutheran Church.  He was an avid sportsman,  hunter and
trapper.                                                                                                              

He is survived by his wife, Frances, of Wilmot; six children: Ronald of Wichita,
Kansas,  Randolph,  Robert,  Rockford, Rhonda and Robin at home: his father,
John Reil,  a  brother,  Roland,  both of  Wilmot;   and one grandson.   He was
preceded in death by his mother and an infant son, Rayburn.